Active soldier detained over knife attack on wife in Caracal, Romania

The attack in Caracal

On Friday evening, 6 November 2026, police in Caracal, a town in Olt county in southern Romania, received an emergency call at around 18:20. The caller reported that a woman had been stabbed at the junction of Mărului and Rahovei streets and that her attacker had left the scene. Officers mobilised every available crew from the Caracal municipal police and quickly found the suspect, a 44-year-old man from the same town. The victim, a 34-year-old woman, was taken to the county emergency hospital in Slatina, where she is receiving specialist treatment. Her injuries are reported not to be life-threatening, and the Ministry of National Defence described her condition as stable.

Military prosecutors take the case

The suspect is an active non-commissioned officer serving with the 22nd Infantry Battalion, according to the Ministry of National Defence. Because he is a serving soldier, the file went to the Military Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest Military Tribunal, which is investigating the case as attempted murder. The ministry said the man is in custody and that the presumption of innocence applies to him. It also said the unit's command is cooperating with prosecutors and will take the administrative measures the law requires.

“No form of violence can be justified or tolerated, regardless of the status of the person involved.”

Earlier complaint and protection order

Steps taken before the attack, as described by the Olt county police inspectorate, point to a prior dispute between the couple. On 4 October 2026 the woman told the Caracal municipal police that her husband had come to her home and threatened her with violence. A risk assessment found an imminent risk, so officers issued a provisional protection order and opened a criminal file for threats. The woman refused to wear an electronic monitoring device. On 8 October a court granted a protection order valid for two months, again without electronic monitoring. On 2 November she went to the Caracal police and withdrew her complaint about the threats. Reports citing people close to the investigation said the couple were in divorce proceedings at the time.

Defence minister responds

Defence Minister Ștefan Radu Oprea condemned the attack in a Facebook post. He said he had asked for a review of the institution's responsibilities and full cooperation with judicial authorities. He also warned that signs of domestic violence must not be ignored and that protecting victims should be a priority for state institutions. In the same post he expressed solidarity with the victim and wished her a swift recovery.

“I am deeply outraged by the case of extreme violence in Caracal, where a woman was attacked with a knife by her husband, an active military officer.”

“No woman should have to live in fear, and no position, profession or uniform can serve as a shield against the law.”

What remains open

Investigators are still establishing exactly how the attack happened and whether the earlier steps pointed to a higher risk for the woman before 6 November. The victim remains in hospital, and the ministry says the unit is cooperating fully with prosecutors. The inquiry is ongoing, and no court has ruled on the case.